Is Routine Screening Using Duplex Ultrasonography for Deep Vein Thrombosis Necessary after Shoulder Arthroplasty?

The aims of this study were to examine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after shoulder arthroplasty in Korean patients. A total of 265 patients who underwent shoulder arthroplasty were included. The mean age of the patients was 74.

Prospective, Multicenter Study of Rotational Atherectomy with Antirestenotic Therapy for Infrainguinal Arterial Disease.

Background: Thrombi are common in steno-occlusive lesions of infrainguinal atherosclerotic diseases. Despite the easy passage of guidewires through these lesions, conventional ballooning or stenting cannot effectively treat them, and patients are at risk of distal embolization. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of using a rotational aspiration atherectomy system to treat infrainguinal atherosclerotic disease.

Predictive Factors of Severe Dissection after Balloon Angioplasty for Femoropopliteal Artery Disease.

Background: Arterial dissection is one of the mechanisms of balloon angioplasty. Although some degree of dissection is unavoidable, severe dissection that impedes blood flow decreases patency and increases the need for additional procedures. To improve the results of angioplasty, it is necessary to understand the factors related to severe dissection and make efforts to reduce its occurrence.

Wound outcomes and factors associated with wound healing after first-time femoropopliteal artery intervention in patients with ischemic tissue loss.

Background/objective: This study's goal is to describe wound outcomes at 2 years following intervention for atherosclerotic femoropopliteal lesions in patients with ischemic tissue loss.

Methods: A retrospective review of 135 first-time endovascular procedures for chronic femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions related to ischemic tissue loss was performed. The final wound outcomes were categorized according to the initial wound healing, recurrence and the need of major/minor amputation.

Scoring Balloon Reduces the Severity of Dissection and Stent Implantation Rate in Superficial Femoral Artery Angioplasty Compared to Plain Balloon.

Purpose: The knowledge regarding the benefits of the scoring balloon (SB) in comparison to the plain balloon (PB) is limited. This study aims to elucidate the difference in efficacy between SB and PB as pre-balloon in superficial femoral artery angioplasty.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed angiographic images of 113 lesions in 98 patients treated with endovascular surgery.

Effect of Opt-out System for Organ Donation After Brain Death on Ethical Legitimacy and Potential Efficacy in a Mathematical Model.

Objectives: We aimed to compare the possible outcomes of the current (opt-in) system and an opt-out system for organ donation in South Korea using a mathematical model.

Materials And Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to investigate the decision on organ donation and family consent after brain death under the current system and an opt-out system. The survey was conducted in August 2018 by means of a voluntary survey of 100 opposite-sex married couples.

The Effect of Severe Femoropopliteal Arterial Calcification on the Treatment Outcome of Femoropopliteal Intervention in Patients with Ischemic Tissue Loss.

Purpose: We investigated the effect of severe calcification of the femoropopliteal artery on intervention outcomes in patients with ischemic tissue loss.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of the first endovascular treatment of the femoropopliteal artery for ischemic tissue loss between May 2010 and February 2018 was performed. The calcification of femoropopliteal lesions was estimated by the Compliance 360° score, and lesions with a score of 4 were defined as severe calcification lesions.

The effect of a mandatory choice systemfor organ donation after brain death onethical legitimacy and potential efficacyin a mathematical model.

Background: The "mandatory choice" system is an organ donation system that forces individuals to clearly express their choice about organ donation. Although this system is widely practiced in western countries, it has not yet been implemented in many Asian countries. This study aimed to compare the possible outcomes of a mandatory choice system and the current system in Korea.

Survey for the Opinion of Medical Students and Medical Staff on a Financial Incentive System for Deceased Organ Donation in an Asian Country.

Background: Financial incentives for deceased organ donation are associated with many controversial ethical issues. This study examines the perspectives of medical students and staff members on financial incentives for the families of brain-dead organ donors.

Methodology: A structured survey form was used between December 7, 2017 and January 28, 2018 to elicit opinions on financial incentives for the families of brain-dead organ donors.

Fabrication of a Novel Absorbable Vascular Anastomosis Device and Testing in a Pig Liver Transplantation Model.

An absorbable vascular anastomosis device (AVAD) was fabricated and tested in pig liver transplantation experiments. We prepared biodegradable copolymers with various ratios of L-lactide: glycolide and tested their properties including inherent viscosity, in vitro biodegradation, and tensile strength. The mechanical and physical properties of the finally selected copolymers were analyzed according to decomposition time.

Arterial Aneurysmal Degeneration With Venous Varicosity Following Ligation of an Arteriovenous Fistula in a Kidney Transplant Recipient.

Late occurrence of arterial aneurysms following ligation of a hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is rare. Here, we report the case of 51-year-old male patient with an AVF in which arterial aneurysms developed. The patient had undergone left arm radiocephalic (RC) AVF creation for hemodialysis in 2000.

Ultrasound-Guided Direct Needle Engagement for Flush-Occluded Superficial Femoral Artery.

Flush ostial occlusion of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) is challenging for endovascular treatment. Neither ipsilateral nor contralateral access is easy. The drawback of ipsilateral common femoral artery (CFA) access is that the CFA is too short for catheter manipulation and sheath engagement.

Impact of Tibial Runoff on Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment for Femoropopliteal Atherosclerotic Lesions.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of tibial runoff on outcomes of femoropopliteal interventions for atherosclerotic lesions.

Methods: A retrospective review of 243 endovascular procedures for femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions on 243 limbs of 197 patients was performed.

Results: The distribution rates of good tibial runoff (runoff score <7) and poor tibial runoff (runoff score ≥7) were 37.

Factors affecting outcomes after endovascular treatment for femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions.

Background/objective: This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of femoropopliteal interventions in relation to various influencing factors.

Methods: A retrospective review of 243 endovascular procedures for femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions on 243 limbs of 197 patients was performed.

Results: In patients with claudication, the TLR free rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year intervals were 89.

Effects of phased education on attitudes toward organ donation and willingness to donate after brain death in an Asian country.

Background/objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of phased education on attitudes toward organ donation and willingness to donate after brain death.

Methods: A survey was conducted using a questionnaire to examine attitudes toward organ donation of the families of patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) between March 1, 2014 and September 30, 2016.

Results: Ninety-two people voluntarily participated in this survey.

Survey Regarding Attitude of Family About Organ Donation After Brain Death in Korea.

BACKGROUND This study examined the attitude of patients' relatives in South Korea toward organ donation after brain death. MATERIAL AND METHODS A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the information on the attitude toward organ donation for relatives of patients who were admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) between March 1, 2014 and September 30, 2016. In total, 92 persons participated voluntarily.

Results of Infrainguinal Bypass with a Composite Graft Combining Polytetrafluoroethylene and Vein Graft in Absence of Appropriate Saphenous Vein Graft.

Purpose: Use of a composite graft combining a polytetrafluoroethylene graft with an autogenous vein is an option for limb salvage in the absence of an adequate single segment vein graft. We aimed to investigate the results of infrainguinal bypass with a composite graft.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 11 infrainguinal arterial bypasses on 11 limbs which underwent surgery from March 2012 to November 2016.

Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Enhances the Expression of Genes Encoding Antioxidant Enzymes and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Proteins in Rat Skeletal Muscle.

Purpose: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC), including remote IPC (rIPC) and direct IPC (dIPC), is a promising method to decrease ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. This study tested the effect of both rIPC and dIPC on the genes for antioxidant enzymes and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins.

Materials And Methods: Twenty rats were randomly divided into the control and study groups.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis: Korean Practice Guidelines.

Lower extremity deep vein thrombosis is a serious medical condition that can result in death or major disability due to pulmonary embolism or post-thrombotic syndrome. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment are required to improve symptoms and salvage the affected limb. Early thrombus clearance rapidly resolves symptoms related to venous obstruction, restores valve function and reduces the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome.

Comparison of clinical outcomes between ABO-compatible and ABO-incompatible spousal donor kidney transplantation.

Background: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease patients. The spouse is a major donor in living KT. Clinical outcomes of spousal donor KT are not inferior to those of living related donor KT.

DELirium Prediction Based on Hospital Information (Delphi) in General Surgery Patients.

To develop a simple and accurate delirium prediction score that would allow identification of individuals with a high probability of postoperative delirium on the basis of preoperative and immediate postoperative data.Postoperative delirium, although transient, is associated with adverse outcomes after surgery. However, there has been no appropriate tool to predict postoperative delirium.

Pseudostenosis of the External Iliac Artery after Common Iliac Artery Occlusion: 2 Case Reports.

We report 2 cases of pseudostenosis of the external iliac artery (EIA) combined with aortoiliac occlusive disease. Both cases were treated successfully by aortobi-iliac bypass surgery instead of aortobi-femoral bypass. Pseudostenoses of the EIA disappeared in the postoperative computed tomographic angiography.

Improved severe hepatopulmonary syndrome after liver transplantation in an adolescent with end-stage liver disease secondary to biliary atresia.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious complication of end-stage liver disease, which is characterized by hypoxia, intrapulmonary vascular dilatation, and liver cirrhosis. Liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative treatment modality for patients with HPS. However, morbidity and mortality after LT, especially in cases of severe HPS, remain high.